A Lockerbie woman’s murder has featured on national TV show Crimewatch Live as cops ramp up the hunt for her killer.
Marion Hodge went missing almost 40 years ago and although her body has never been found she was declared dead in 1992 at Edinburgh’s Court of Session.
And police, who last week re-opened the investigation into her case for a second time, declared it a murder probe in 2005.
The television show is famous for jolting witnesses’ memories and new leads have brought convictions over the years.
It was screened on Tuesday morning and presenter Rav Wilding interviewed Detective Inspector Stephen McGrath by Zoom.
DI McGrath is heading the investigation and said: “The response to our appeal so far has been positive but we are continuing to ask the public to contact us if they have any information that might help.
“Marion’s family and friends deserve closure.
“They have waited far too long.
“We’re appealing to anyone who remembers anything unusual leading up to Marion’s disappearance, any sightings in the Whitesands area or any other relevant information that might help our inquiry.”
Marion is said to have been dropped off in the Whitesands area of Dumfries around 7.30am on Friday, July 6, 1984.
She was reported to be carrying a blue canvas suitcase and brown handbag, wearing a cream high collared blouse, grey skirt and black sandals.
Three days later she was reported missing to Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary.
The 34-year-old mother-of-two lived in Balgray, Lockerbie, and worked in the town’s Clydesdale Bank. She was five feet four inches tall, of slim build with dark brown collar length hair.
Her disappearance was described by family as “totally out of character” and DI McGrath added on the show that if she was ever unable to make her work then she would always call the bank.
Marion was also said to be “very family orientated” and that it was her son’s 15th birthday the day she vanished.
DI McGrath remarked: “She would not have missed his birthday. She failed to make contact with family after that and when she failed to make contact after the Lockerbie Disaster her family knew then she was dead.”
Police have also set up a direct link to dedicated teams probing the murder.
The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) is a website that gives the public access to a form so they can send information directly to dedicated teams based at the Scottish Crime Campus.
It supplements the standard reporting methods which include phoning Crimestoppers anonymously or Police Scotland directly.
The online form can be found at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/96HO020308D09-PO1
